>>5358045As a bartender skeleton makes her way over, she’s intercepted by a pompadour’d blur–one that practically leaps over to you with a boisterous laugh you’d recognize anywhere!
“About damn time ya’ showed up, sis!” Announces Haulie-Paulie as he cleans a glass with a dishrag. “I kept tellin’ these freeloaders: how the hell is Stan gonna party without one of my <span class="mu-g">PREMIUM DRINKS,</span> huh?”
“You still cleanin’ that thing, Paul?” Stripes asks as Haulie-Paulie gives your shoulder a good-natured slap!
“Ha! Ain’t it great?” Laughs the bartender as he shows off the glass to both of you. “I feel like da’ real McCoy doin’ this! That Mayor from <span class="mu-g">JOPLIN</span> showed me how ta’ really sell it!”
As if on cue, <span class="mu-i">another</span> skeleton-shaped blur emerges from beneath the bar–one with an impeccably-polished stache’ and an old-timey bartender’s apron!
“Taught him everything I know… and it ain’t much!”
As Paulie and Mayor Ike break into laughter simultaneously, you turn to find Stripes giving you an apologetic glance.
“Yep, two peas in a damn pod, those two.”
No kidding.
“I’m tellin’ ya, guys, this shindig? It’s a <span class="mu-i">hit</span>!” Paulie croons as he watches the Mayor polish his glass out of the corner of his eye. “An’ it wouldn’t have been possible without this lil’ busybody right here!” He adds as he shoots you an appreciative wink!
“I’ll drink to that… or I would if I wasn’t on the clock!” Jokes Ike as he nudges Stripes in the ribs! “Oh wait! I’m tendin' bar!” Grabbing one of the bottles off the shelf behind him, the skeleton promptly lines up four shot glasses on the counter in front of you and fills them all with the amber-colored drink!
“Pour one for me, wouldja’, Ike?”
Turning towards the voice, you find yourself staring at an old man with a grey beard and a green hat slowly making his way through the crowd! Seeing him approach, the skeleton next to you politely relinquishes his seat and takes his drink with him back into the party!
“Cripes, Pete, I almost don’t want to!” The Mayor counters as the old man gives you a friendly smile. “You must have the bladder of a squirrel with how much you’ve been runnin’ off!”
“Just makin’ the rounds.” Pete shrugs as Paulie takes the bottle and pours him a shot too. “Helped one of Cliff’s boys set up a new keg–I swear it was like carryin’ a bag of bowling balls up a mountain!”
“<span class="mu-r">Well, well…</span>” Remarks Nats. Yep, you heard it too…
>CONTD. 